And ernest r



1 622,413 March 1927' c. P. BROCKWAY ET AL LIQUID FUEL FEEDING AND CARBURETING APPARATUS Filed June 21. 1920 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fit. I.

INVENTOR. Carl P. brockway By Ernest Rfiu'nuey,

ATTORNEY.

March 29,1927. 1,622,413

c. P. BROCKWAY ET AL I LIQUID FUEL FEEDING AND CARBURETING APPARATUS Filed June 21, 1920 I 3 Sheets-She 2 INVENTOR. la Carl P. brockway. BY Ernest RHunfley- ATTORNEY March 29, 1927. 1,622,413

C. P. BROCKWAY ET AL LIQUID FUEL FEEDING AND CARBURETING APPARATUS Filed June 21, 1920 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 1 Z 60 I I 1 WI/III! 6| l- 2: Q E 64 To I 1 1! 7 l .A as

Fit} IXZ 1 BY Ernest R. Hun 127 ATTORNEX Patented Mar. 29, 1927. i

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CARL P. BROCKXVAY, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, AND ERNEST R. HUNTLEY, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNORS T INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH OORFORATION, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF DELAVJARE.

LIQUID-FUEL FEEDING AND CARBURETING APPARATUS.

Application filed June 21, 1920. Serial No. 390,586.

This invention relates to improvements in Fig. IV is a central, vertical, sectional liquid fuel feeding and carbureting apparaview of a modification. 55 tus and is concerned with additions to and Similar reference characters refer to like improvements in the carbureter disclosed in parts throughout the views.

application, Serial Number 276,169, of Carl The casing for the carburetor proper is P. Broclrway, filed February 10, 1919, now illustrated as made in two parts, the lower issued as Patent No. 1,456,219, dated May one constituting a float chamber, and the 22, 1923. upper one 11, the cover for the float cham- One of the objects of: the invention is the ber, and containing the mixture conduits 10 utilization of the engine suction for raising leading to the engine intake. A bowl-shaped fuel from a low level tanl-z directly to the container 12 is mounted within the casing carbureter float chamber. 10 and is preferably integral therewith, the

Another object of the invention is the interior of the container 12 being in com provision of means for breaking up fuel inmunication with the float chamber through 15 to very line particles by means of centri-fupassages 13 and through a vertical bore 1 1 gal force, and for the subdivision of the extending through the base of the container "fuel particles by causing them to move in a 12. The bore 141 is adapted to be closed more direction exactly opposite to that which the or less by a valve 15, which is threaded in air takes in passing from the carbureter to a screw plug 16 provided with a packing 90 the engine, the sharp impact between the gland 1?. The valve stem is provided with spray and air producing a breaking up of a suitable handle 18 for purposes of adjustthe fuel and an intimate mixture with the ment. air. The casting 11 is cored out to form a A further object of the invention is the central chamber 19 and a passage 20 comprovision of means for causing the air to municating therewith and constituting the move with additional rapidity and force connection to the engine. An annular porjust at the point where it enters the fuel tion of the casting 11 depends centrally into spray. the float chamber and carries at its lower Still another object is the provision of a end a ball bearing 21 capable of absorbing double valve for controlling the amount of end thrust. In the bearing is mounted a air going to the carburetor proper and also shaft 22 which, at its lower extremity, supthe auxiliary air going direct to the engine ports a bowl 253. The annular portion or" so intake, together with means independent or the casting 11 just above the ball bearing the said valve for varying the proportions is provided throughout its periphery with 35 of air which may be taken into the two air openings 24, by means or": which communipaths when the valve is operated. cation is established between the float cham- Other objects, and objects relating to deher and the chamber 19 and passage 20. 9

tails of construction and economies of man- The bottom of the bowl 2?.) is provided u'tacture will appear as we proceed with the with a central, depending projection 25,

40 description of that embodiment of the inshaped like an inverted cone, the parts bevention, which, for the purposes of the presing so dimensioned and positioned that the cut application, we have illustrated in the projection 25 extends into the upper counaccompanying drawings, in which tor-sunk portion of the bore 14-. ASQIIQS Figure I is an elevational view of a carof vertical passages 26 are formed in the 45 burctcl' and mOtOI' o ying Our invention, bottom of the bowl around the base of the certain parts being broken away and other projection 25, while an annular lip 27 exparts shown in section to more clearly illustends partially beneath these passages. For trate the invention. convenience in manufacture the bottom of Fig. 11 is a vertical, central section taken the bowl is made separate from the side por- 50 substantially on the line 11-11, Fig. 1. tion thereof, but for all purposes of opera-- Fig. 111 is a detail sectional view talren tion it may he considered as mtegral with substantially on the line IIIIII, Fig. 11, the side portion.

and The spray delivered from the top of the bowl 23 is thrown into a chamber, which is formed by two annular, sheetmetal stampings, the upper one 28 being mounted in the casting 11 just above the openings 24, and the lower one 29 being mounted in the upper edge of container 12. These stampmgs converge toward each other near their outer circumference forming an annular outlet 7 of diminished width, the center of which lies approximately in the plane containing the lip of the rotatable bowl 23. Beyond this narrow annular outlet 27 the plates and 29 diverge and are then turner down in parallel relation toward the base of the chamber as clearly indicated in Figure. ll.

At one side, the float chamber 10 is provided with a small extension 30 forming a compartment into the bottom of which is threaded a nipple 31 adapted to be connected with a fuel pipe leading to a storage tank which may be at a lower level than the float chamber 10. The upper end of the nipple constitutes a seat into which extends a valve member adapted to be lifted from its seat by one end of a lever 33 fulcrumed on a pin 34. The opposite end of the lever 33 is secured to a float 35 which is preferably annular so as to completely surround the bowl-shaped container 12.

In the casting 11 and. opposite the passa 'e 20 is a cylindrical casing 36 open at the top and bottom, in which is mounted a double cylindrical or sleeve valve l having end walls 37 and 38 joined by an integral, cylin drical element 39 which is provided with two sets of peripherally arranged slots it). Two cylindrlcally curved plates at are mounted oppositely on the peripheries of the end walls 37 and 38. Between the plates 4-1 in the same cylindrical path are openings 1-2 e2 tending from one end wall to the other. The end wall 38 and the adjacent wall of the chamber 19 are cut away flush with the interior surface of cylindrical element 39. A sliding sleeve 43 is mounted within the latter and extends into the chamber 19 forming an inner valve A fixed stud ts: extends into a slot 45 in the sleeve d3 to prevent rotary movement thereof. This sleeve has two sets of slots 46 which are of the same size and are adapted to register with slots 40 in the cylindrical element 39. The outer end of the sleeve 43 is provided with inwardly projecting fingers 47 which run in the threads of a coarse screw 48 on the inner end of a short shaft 41-9 extending axially through th wall 37 and carrying on its outer end an operating crank 50. A second operatingcrank 51 is secured by any suitable means to the wall 37 of the double valve. The purpose the double valve construction shown more clearly in Figs. 11 and III is to by-pass a portion of the air normally passing through ports controlled by valve crank 50 into the float chamber, directly into the chamber 19 adj acent the outlet conduit 20. By so doing, the mixture is thinned thus reducing the percentage of hydrocarbon vapor.

As illustrated the auxiliary by-pass valve is controlled by lever 51 and lever 50. Lever Si by its movementoperates both primary and auxiliary valves, the ports 46 in the sleeve 5 being fixed in position by reason of the stud is. The slots 16 and 40 in the inner movable wall 39 controlled by lever 51 are normally in complete registry but by means of the lever through which axial movement of sleeve 5 is obtained, the effective width of the port gap is varied and may be closed completely. In this manner the proportion of air by-passed through sleeve 5 relative to the amount of air admitted in the primary ports controlled by valvular plates d1 is varied and hence the character of the mixture passing out of the carbureter outlet conduit 20 is correspondingly varied.

In order to provide a very high speed of rotation for the bowl 23, the shaft 22 is directly connected to the armature shaft of an electric motor 52 which preferably is of the series field type. The casing of the motor may be conveniently built in two sections, the bottom one being rigidly mounted in any desirable manner in the casting 11 directly above the chamber 19.

in the operation of our carbureter, valve 15 is set to admit fuel from the float chamher to the container 12 in such quantities only as are desirable for the efficient operation of the device. The motor 52 is then put into operation and the level of liquid in the container 12 soon drops below the annular lip 27 on the bottom of the rotating bowl. The fuel is picked up by the surface of the projection 25 and delivered by centrifugal force through passages 26 to the bowl 23. Here it forms itself into a film which grows thinner and thinner as it rises upon the wall of the bowl, the latter gradually increasing in diameter towards the top. As clearly shown in the drawings, the inner surface of the bowl continuously changes in inclination, becoming steeper and steeper, until at the top its surface is substantially vertical. The shape of the bowl should be varied for fuels of different viscosities, the object being always to produce as thin a film as possible and to cause said film to acquire as nearly as possible the speed of the bowl before it leaves the upper edge thereof. If the surface of the bowl is too steep the fuel will pile up somewhat, thereby increasing the thickness of the lilm, and if the inclination be too gradual the fuel will be thrown off the edge of the bowl before its speed of rotation approaches that of the bowl. A the film of liquid reaches the edge of the bowl it flies outwardly and horizontally therefrom, necessarily breaking up into fine particles to produce a spray or mist which moves in a plane half way between the parts 28 and 29 of the annular outlet 7.

In the drawing the double air valves 4 and 5 are shown in closed position. By turning the crank 51 in either direction from its illustrated position the operator may move the curved plates 41 so as to permit more or less air to enter through the top of the valve casing and pass down into the float chamber. This it does under the influence of suction from the engine. \Vhen the air enters the float chamber it mixes with the vapor above the liquid therein and then is drawn up through the annular passage between the downturned outer edges of the members 28 and 29. By reason of the engine suction it is then drawn through the neck of the annular outlet, thereby acquiring great speed as will be well understood by those skilled in this art. The impact of this rapidly moving air against the spray discharged by the bowl 23 assists greatly in sub-dividing the particles of fuel and in accomplishing a thorough admixture of the fuel and air. If any particles should escape fine subdivision they would be comparatively heavy and would be thrown to the vertical Wall of the stamping 28 and would then find their way back into the fluid in the float chamber.

Our apparatus is so proportioned and adjusted that the bowl 23 will supply a surplus of spray at all times. The amount of spray taken up will depend upon the amount of air being fed into the outlet 7. The excess of spray settles upon the outer portion of the parts 28 and 29 where it flows down again into the float chamber. The air which passes thus through the outlet 7 into the chamber and passage 20 is substantially saturated with fuel oil and hence is too rich a mixture, even though the air valve be open to its fullest extent. This oil laden air HlillSt therefore be mixed with pure air. The latter comes through the outer part of the valve casing and through slots 42 and 46 in the cylindrical parts 39 and 43 respectively. As shown in the drawings these slots are capable of being brought into complete register when the crank handle 51 is turned to the proper position and in the intermediate position the same proportion of the total air isshunted directly to the chamber 19 and passage 20. However, for some working conditions the proportions chosen may not be the most efiicient, and accordingly We have provided for an adjustment 'of the sleeve l3 longitudinally by means of the crank handle 50, the turning of which causes the screw 48 to feed the sleeve 43 in or out to displace the slots 46 somewhat and thus narrow the passages for air through this shunted path. The valves 4 and 5 being fixedly connected or moved simultaneously by the lever 51, and consequently when the most desired ratio of opening of these valves is determined, the lever 51 controls the operation of both and the engine receives pure air on the one hand and fuel mixture in proportion on the other hand for all portions of the valve lever 41. lVhen the handle 50 is once adjusted it requires no further attention, the speed of the engine being controlled by the handle 51. Thus it will be observed that engine control is not brought about by variations in the amount of fuel drawn by suction from a spray nozzle, but rather by the amount of air conducted through a fixed amount of spray. Attention is called to the fact that no throttle valve is shown or intended to be used in connection with our carbureter. At the time of starting the engine the handles 50 and 51 may be operated to reduce the proportion of air passing directly to the engine, for example, the lever 50 being closed and the air admitted by lever 51 shunted through the carbureter to obtain a heavy mixture, thus satisfying the same purpose as the choker valve in the ordinary construction.

The fuel in the float chamber is maintained by the float control valve 32 at a height well below the top of the bowl-shaped container 12. The float chamber is under suction at all times and this condition we propose to utilize for the raising of fuel from a low level tank. The difiiculties met with in the ordinary type of carbureter when a result of this kind is attempted are not present in our device because the spray of fuel is not dependent for its existence upon the engine suction.

After a period of inactivity fuel will stand in container 12 and bowl 23 at the same level as in the float chamber, but when the motor 52 is started the level in container and bowl will be quickly reduced to the proper height for running, that is, such that no part of the bowl with the exception of the projection 25 dips into the fuel. As soon as the motor 52 is up to speed the engine may be started.

In Fig. IV we have illustrated a modification in which the annular outlet 7 is not utilized and in which the rotating bowl and the air valve are of a quite different character. tion of the carbureter, it being understood that in respect to the parts not shown it resembles the preferred form in. essential characteristics. In this figure air enters the carbureter through openings in the casing 61 when corresponding openings in a valve sleeve 62 are brought into register by the operation of a handle 63. The air then passes downwardly around a deflecting cap 64: and inwardly through openings 65 in the latter, after which it passes into a space between a horizontal annular ledge 66 at the upper extremity of a container 67, and the The illustration shows only a porlower surface of the top of the deflecting cap 64. Here the air meets the oppositely moving spray from the upper edge of the rotating element 68 which corresponds in function to the bowl 23 of the preferred form. If deemed advisable the upper portion of the element 68 may be braced and secured to the shaft 22 by means of a spider 69. Above the spider the element 68 is bent sharply outward while the rim has an inward and then an outward curve. This forms a pocket 70 in which fuel may collect and leaves a curved surface rather than a sharp edge from which the fuel is discharged. This is for the purpose of spreading the spray somewhat instead of discharging it in a plane. The oil laden air is drawn out by engine suction hrough the central opening in the deflecting cap 64 and through a conduit 7] to the engine, being first mixed with pure air taken in through openings 72, the size of which may be regulated by means of a valve sleeve 73 operated by a handle 74-.

We are aware that the particular embodiments of our invention above described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings is susceptible of considerable variation without departing from the spirit thereof, and therefore we desire to claim our invention broadly, as well as specifically, as indicated by the appended claims.

Ive claim as our invention: 7

1. In a carbureter, means for conducting ai'r therethrough in two separate passages, means'for producing a line spray of fuel in one of said passages, through whichspray the air in that passage must travel said spray producing means furnishing spray in a constant and excessive amount, means for collecting and condensing the excess fuel and returning it to said first named means, and means for variously proportioning the amounts of air moving through said passages whereby the amount of fuel passing from the carbureter is regulated.

2. In a carbureter, a float chamber, said chamber having an intake opening, a float controlled valve for said opening, a continuously open conduit connecting said chamber with the intake of the gas engine, whereby the suction of the engine is adapted to raise fuel into said chamber from a lower lever, means for producing a spray of fuel in said chamber, valve controlled means for admitting air to said conduit through said chamber and also to said conduit direct, and valve controlled means for proportioning the amount of air drawn by the engine through the float chamber and that drawn directly to the conduit.

3. In a carbureter, means for producing a fine spray or mist comprising a rotary element mounted to revolve about its central vertical axis, means for conducting liquid fuel to the hub of said rotary element, a

container forsa-id rotary element comprising upper and lower annular walls arranged respectively above and below the peripheralv edge of the rotary element,- the outer edge of said upper annular wall being directed downwardly below the level of the periphery of said rotary element.

4. In a. carbureter, a float chamber, a rotary bowl mounted therein to revolve about a central vertical axis, the base of said bowl having holes therethrough for the admission of fuel to the bowl, and being mounted below the level of fuel in said float chamber,

a container for said bowl having an annular chamber surrounding the rim of the bowl, an engine intake opening centrally into said bowl oppos te said annular chamber,the latter being open throughout its periphery for the admission of air flowing in a direction an engine intake opening centrally into said bowl opposite said annular chamber, the lat: ter being open throughout its periphery for inc admission of air flowing in a direction opposite to the flow of spray from the bowl rim, the upper and lower walls of said annular chamber gradually approaching each other intermediate their inner and outer edges to produce an annular venturi.

(i. In a carbureter, means for producing a spray of fuel, an open ended passageway having a constricted area, into one end of which the spray is directed by mechanical means, and into the other month of which air is drawn by engine suction, the spray and air approaching from opposite directions meeting and mixing at the const 'icted area of the passageway to produce further subdivision of the fuel particles and thorough admixture of the same with air.

7. In a carbureter, a hollow bowl adapted to be rapidly rotated and adapted to receive liquid fuel, an annular open ended radially extending passageway adjacent the edge of the bowl into one end of which spray thrown from the edge of said bowl is directed and into the other end of which air is drawn by engine suction,the spray and air meeting and mixing within the passageway to produce further subdivision of fuel particles and a thorough admixture of the same with air.

8. In a carbureter, a float chamber, means for producing a fuel spray or mist comprising a rotary bowl mounted to revolve about its central vertical axis, the base of' said bowl having a central depending projection in the form of an inverted cone adapted to dip into the fuel. in said float chamber, and move the fuel outwardly, said base having openings 'therethrough around and displaced from said depending projection adapted to receive liquid directed therethrough by said cone.

9. In a carburetor, a float chamber, a bowlshaped container set into said chamber, said container having an opening therethrough in its base and means for producing a fuel spray or mist comprising a bowl mounted to revolve about its vertical axis centrally in said container, said rotaiy bowl having openings therethrough at its base displaced radially from its axis of rotation and means for controlling the flow of liquid through said openings and into said container.

10. In a carbureter, a float chamber, a bowl-shaped container set into said chamber with its upper edge projecting well above the normal liquid level of said chamber, said container having a valve controlled opening therethrough permitting coimnunication between the container and the float chamber, and means for producing a fuel spray or mist comprising a bowl mounted to revolve about its vertical aXis centrally in said container, said rotary bowl having openings therethrough at its base displaced from the axis of rotation of the bowl, and mechanical means for directing fuel to said openings.

11. In a carbureter, a spraylng chamber,

a continuously open conduit leading from said spraying chamber and adapted to be connected to an engine intake, a valve adapted to control the admission of air both to said conduit through said chamber and said conduit direct comprising a pair of concenric valve sleeves mounted to turn together and a longitudinally slidable valve sleeve mounted within the inner of said first named sleeves, said inner revolving sleeve and said slidable sleeve having ports adapted to fully register in one position only of the slidable sleeve, said outer revolving sleeve controlling the passage of air through said spraying chamber and said inner revolving sleeve and said slidable sleeve controlling the passage of air direct to said conduit.

12. In a carbureter, means for conducting air therethrough in two separate passages, means for producing a line spray of fuel in one of said passages through which spray the air in that passage must travel, primary control means whereby the amount of air passing through each of said passage-ways is simultaneously varied, the amount of air through one passageway bearing a fixed relationship to that through the other, and secondary manual control means adapted to control one of said passage-ways independently of said primary control means.

In testimony whereof, we afiix our signatures.

CARL P. BROGK'WAY. ERNEST R. I-IUNTLEY. 

